Citizen Ruth
“Life, liberty, money and the pursuit of happiness. She's gotta have it.”
"Citizen Ruth" is the story of Ruth Stoops, a woman who nobody even noticed -- until she got pregnant. Now, everyone wants a piece of her. The film is a comedy about one woman caught in the ultimate tug-of-war: a clash of wild, noisy, ridiculous people that rapidly dissolves into a media circus.
Where to watch Citizen Ruth in United States
Kanopy
Hoopla
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
JustWatch TVClick a service to open Citizen Ruth there. Availability last verified on June 30, 2026.
Where is Citizen Ruth streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Kanopy, Hoopla | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
| India | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video |
| United Kingdom | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, JustWatch TV |
| Canada | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video |
| Australia | — | JustWatch TV, Apple TV Store, Amazon Video |
| Germany | — | Amazon Video |
| France | — | Amazon Video |
| Spain | — | Rakuten TV, Amazon Video |
About Citizen Ruth
Citizen Ruth is a 1996 English-language drama and comedy film directed by Alexander Payne. The cast is led by Laura Dern, Swoosie Kurtz, Kurtwood Smith. It has a runtime of 1h 44m. Viewers rate it 6.6/10 across 100 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on Kanopy, Hoopla.
Citizen Ruth was produced by Miramax and Independent Pictures and made in United States of America. It was released on November 21, 1996, and carries a R certification. Made on a budget of about $3 million, it went on to gross $0 million worldwide.
- Director
- Alexander Payne
- Writers
- Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor
- Release date
- November 21, 1996
- Original language
- English
- Age rating
- R
- Status
- Released
- Country
- United States of America
- Budget
- $3 million
- Box office
- $0 million
- Production
- Miramax, Independent Pictures
Citizen Ruth cast & crew
Citizen Ruth was directed by Alexander Payne and written by Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor.
The cast features Laura Dern as Ruth Stoops, Swoosie Kurtz as Diane Siegler, Kurtwood Smith as Norm Stoney, Mary Kay Place as Gail Stoney, Kelly Preston as Rachel, and M.C. Gainey as Harlan.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Rolfe Kent, cinematography is by James Glennon, and it was produced by Cathy Konrad and Cary Woods.
Is Citizen Ruth worth watching?
Citizen Ruth holds an audience score of 6.6/10 from 148 ratings, a solidly received drama films.
At 1h 44m, it's a standard feature-length watch.
If you enjoy drama and comedy, Citizen Ruth is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch Citizen Ruth
In United States, you can stream Citizen Ruth on Kanopy and Hoopla, or rent and buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. Click any service above to open it directly.
Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.
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Cast of Citizen Ruth
Laura Dern
Ruth Stoops
Swoosie Kurtz
Diane Siegler
Kurtwood Smith
Norm Stoney
Mary Kay Place
Gail Stoney
Kelly Preston
Rachel
M.C. Gainey
Harlan
Kenneth Mars
Dr. Charlie Rollins
David Graf
Judge Richter
Kathleen Noone
Nurse Pat
Tippi Hedren
Jessica Weiss
Burt Reynolds
Blaine Gibbons
Lance Rome
Ruth's Lover
Citizen Ruth — FAQs
▸Where can I watch Citizen Ruth in United States?
Citizen Ruth is streaming on Kanopy, Hoopla in United States.
▸Is Citizen Ruth on Kanopy?
Yes — Citizen Ruth is currently available on Kanopy in United States.
▸What language is Citizen Ruth in?
Citizen Ruth is originally in English. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is Citizen Ruth?
Citizen Ruth runs 1 hours 44 minutes (104 minutes).
▸What is Citizen Ruth rated?
Citizen Ruth is rated R. It holds a 6.6/10 audience score from 148 ratings.
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